“They tried to take it from us. They literally tried to rewrite the rules on the spot.” Liverpool fans are calling for a ‘Full Investigation’ into the VAR officials after Alexis Mac Allister’s clinical strike was SHOCKINGLY cancelled today!

“They Tried to Rewrite the Rules on the Spot”: Liverpool Fans Erupt After Mac Allister’s Goal Shockingly Disallowed in VAR Storm

The fury at Anfield has reached a boiling point. Liverpool’s dramatic 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest should have been a moment of uncomplicated celebration—a last-gasp winner, a crucial step in the top-four race, a hero emerging in the dying seconds. Instead, it has become the latest flashpoint in an ongoing war between Liverpool and the officials who keep finding new ways to infuriate them.

**”They tried to take it from us. They literally tried to rewrite the rules on the spot.”**

That incendiary claim, now spreading like wildfire across Liverpool fan forums and social media, captures the sense of injustice surrounding Alexis Mac Allister’s disallowed goal—a strike that was ruled out for handball before the Argentine rose again to score the legitimate winner in the final seconds .

## The Mac Allister Double: One Disallowed, One Decisive

The scene at the City Ground was chaotic. Liverpool, enduring a technically poor match largely dominated by Forest, thought they had broken the deadlock in the 89th minute when Mac Allister found the net . Cue delirium from the travelling support, cue celebrations on the touchline, cue the sense that Arne Slot’s men had done enough.

Then came the VAR intervention.

The goal was disallowed for handball, though replays offered little clarity on what exactly the Argentine had done wrong . For Liverpool fans watching in stadiums and at home, it was another moment of officiating opacity—a decision announced without proper explanation, a goal chalked off without convincing evidence.

But football, as it often does, offered redemption within minutes.

Deep into stoppage time, Mac Allister rose to meet a cross and powered a header into the net . This time, VAR checked for offside—and this time, they let it stand . The Argentine had his goal, Liverpool had their three points, and the top-four race had been dramatically reshaped.

## The Context: A Season of VAR Warfare

To understand the fury behind **”they tried to rewrite the rules on the spot,”** one must understand Liverpool’s 2025-26 season of officiating grievances. This is not an isolated incident—it’s the latest chapter in a campaign defined by VAR controversy.

Just weeks ago, Juan Mata had a stunning strike disallowed against Brighton in a decision so egregious that the referee later issued a formal apology . The goal, which should have stood, was ruled out for a marginal offside call and possible interference that simply didn’t exist. The apology, while rare, did nothing to restore the two points Liverpool lost .

The Manchester City fixture at Anfield produced its own storm. Federico Chiesa was denied a penalty after appearing to be “rugby tackled” in the box by Rodri, with fans questioning why the incident was “swept under the carpet” . Arne Slot, already frustrated by multiple decisions across two games against City, pointed to a “clear red card” on Mohamed Salah that went unpunished and a penalty awarded to City that he felt was unjust .

The Leeds United match added another layer. Hugo Ekitike was clearly held back by Jaka Bijol in the penalty area, but no spot-kick was awarded . Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards agreed on commentary that had Ekitike gone down, he’d have won a penalty—but because he stayed on his feet trying to score, the officials ignored the sustained holding . As Liverpool.com noted, “It’s no wonder Arne Slot has been encouraging his players to go down more this season” .

## The Handball Controversy: “Rewriting the Rules”

The specific claim that officials “tried to rewrite the rules on the spot” refers to the handling of Mac Allister’s disallowed goal. While the official reason was handball, fans are questioning both the substance of the decision and the process by which it was reached.

The handball rule has been a source of confusion since its various iterations. The key questions in any handball decision are:

1. Was the hand/arm in an unnatural position?
2. Was the contact accidental or deliberate?
3. Did the player gain an unfair advantage?

Liverpool fans argue that none of these criteria were clearly met in Mac Allister’s case—and that the VAR officials, having decided the goal should be disallowed, then struggled to justify their decision under the existing rules. Hence the accusation of trying to “rewrite” them on the spot.

## The Slot Factor: Manager Under Pressure

Arne Slot’s reaction to yet another VAR controversy has been characteristically measured in public but reportedly furious behind closed doors. The Dutch manager has now seen his team affected by multiple contentious decisions this season, from the Chiesa non-penalty against City to the Szoboszlai red card in the same match .

Slot’s post-match comments about the City game were revealing. When asked about the various decisions across two fixtures, he listed them with weary precision: “The disallowed goal at City, the penalty they got in the away game against us, the clear red card on Mo Salah in the second half here, or the penalty they got in the second half” . His point was clear: this is a pattern, not a one-off.

Against Forest, Slot kept his counsel publicly, focusing instead on the three points and Mac Allister’s heroics. But those close to the manager suggest his patience is wearing thin—particularly as Liverpool enter the defining phase of the season with Champions League qualification on the line.

## The Fan Reaction: “Full Investigation” Demanded

Liverpool supporters are not waiting for official statements. Social media has erupted with demands for a **”full investigation”** into the VAR officials who disallowed Mac Allister’s goal . The phrase **”they tried to rewrite the rules on the spot”** has become a rallying cry, encapsulating the belief that officials are not merely making mistakes but actively manipulating processes to justify predetermined outcomes.

The demands for investigation are rooted in recent precedent. Following the Liverpool-Man City match earlier this month, FIFA reportedly announced disciplinary action against the referee and VAR officials involved . An internal examination of several pivotal incidents led to the referee being temporarily removed from high-level matches and VAR officials required to undergo retraining .

One senior referee, speaking anonymously, admitted: “There was no consensus in the VAR booth. One official believed it was a clear foul. Another contended it didn’t meet the necessary threshold. Ultimately, no one wanted to overrule the others. That’s where the system failed” .

Liverpool fans now want the same accountability applied to the Forest match. If officials genuinely tried to “rewrite the rules” in real time, that represents a fundamental breakdown of the VAR system’s integrity.

## The Bigger Picture: Trust Eroded

The cumulative effect of these controversies is profound. Jamie Carragher, who has been vocal throughout the season, recently stated: “This is what fans have been asking for. Not perfection—accountability. You can’t keep making the same mistakes in crucial games and expect people to simply move on” .

Van Dijk has echoed similar sentiments: “We don’t want special treatment. We just want consistency. You train all week for moments like that, and when they’re taken away, it hurts” .

The trust between Liverpool and the officiating establishment is now severely eroded. Every marginal decision is viewed through the lens of previous injustices. Every VAR check is met with suspicion rather than confidence. And every statement from the PGMOL is parsed for evidence of accountability rather than accepted as good faith.

## What Happens Next

Liverpool’s official response to the Mac Allister incident will be scrutinised. The club has form here—following the Brighton match, they reportedly received a formal apology after the Mata goal controversy . Whether they push for similar acknowledgment this time, or whether they escalate demands for a full investigation, remains to be seen.

The Premier League and PGMOL face a choice. They can dismiss this as another routine complaint from aggrieved fans, or they can recognise that the cumulative weight of these controversies demands systemic response. The FIFA action against City match officials suggests that accountability is possible when pressure is sustained . The question is whether the same standards apply to all matches.

## The Verdict

**”They tried to rewrite the rules on the spot.”**

That accusation, whether ultimately proven or not, reflects the depth of Liverpool fans’ disillusionment. They have watched their team denied legitimate goals, refused clear penalties, and subjected to decisions that defy logic and precedent. They have heard apologies, seen officials stood down, and witnessed the ritual of accountability—only for the next controversy to arrive weeks later.

Mac Allister got his goal in the end. Liverpool got their three points. But the underlying problem remains unaddressed. A system designed to deliver fairness is instead delivering fury. And until that changes, every match will carry the risk of another explosion, another investigation, another cry that the rules are being rewritten in real time.

For Liverpool fans, the Forest match was a victory—but it was also another chapter in a season-long battle against a system they no longer trust.